Mr. Vialpando is a strong advocate for the nursing profession and exemplifies the VA's I CARE values of integrity, compassion, advocacy, respect and excellence in every action he takes.
Integrity: Mr. Vialpando is an inspiration with his willingness and desire to supersede every task that is presented to him or that he seeks out. He serves as a role model and mentor to his fellow nurses and is well respected among the physicians he serves. Mr. Vialpando was a vital component to the success of two Patient Aligned Care Teams when the primary RN Case Managers (CM) were out for an extended period. He quickly adapted to the workload and created a cohesive work environment addressing over thirty alerts quickly and efficiently. During his time with Primary Care, he provided one-on-one educational training and focused care to several veterans during their hypertensive crises treatment phase. Thanks to Mr. Vialpando's attention to detail and superior knowledge, both patients were stabilized prior to their disposition. In addition to providing bedside care, he continued to direct and guide the ongoing activities of that clinic. One of the PACT providers insisted that Mr. Vialpando remains with his clinic until the full-time RN CM returned from her absence. This provider praised his professionalism, demeanor, and integrity.
Commitment: He frequently volunteers to work late or cover a Saturday clinic when there is a last minute change in staffing. In January 2017, without hesitation, he volunteered to cover the Minor Procedure clinic when the assigned RN quickly transferred to another facility. One significant change he implemented was instituting the use of the pre-, intra-, and post-procedure templates that were readily available in CPRS to enhance procedure continuity. These templates are more comprehensive than the template previously created, enhancing patient safety and outcomes.
Advocacy: This is only one of many examples that demonstrate his strong advocacy skills. His positive demeanor and relentless drive to help others are unwavering. When an emotionally distraught veteran arrived at the facility after receiving his lab results in the mail, Mr. Vialpando quickly addressed the veteran's concerns and provided essential education and consoling. Unfortunately, the veterans Primary Care physician was on vacation at this time and the veteran was too upset to endure the wait time of this provider's return. There were no other Primary Care physicians available so Mr. Vialpando educated the patient on the normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ranges and provided some guidance as to why levels can vary (without diagnosing). He also informed the patient that prior to any cancer diagnosis other diagnostic testing will ensue to confirm the results. Mr. Vialpando reiterated to the patient that his provider will explain all test results in greater detail during his follow up appointment. The veteran was very pleased with the service he received and had a sense of peace when he left the facility.
Respect: Prior to the official opening of the new Tallahassee facility in October 2016, Mr. Vialpando volunteered to work on the weekend devoting his own personal time to fulfill the VA's mission. This move was a huge undertaking to complete within the allotted three days and could not have been accomplished without the dedication and commitment of individuals like Mr. Vialpando. The volunteerism rate by staff members was extremely low which increased the complexity of the move. His contribution as well as the other volunteers were endless and greatly appreciated. He is also cross-trained in Primary Care, the Clinical Access Unit (CAU), Podiatry, Minor Procedures, Urology, and is a resource person for Gynecology making him a vital asset to Nursing Leadership.
Excellence: He actively participates and supports multiple committees and events. He is a member of the NF/SG Patient Safety Committee, Chair for the Environment of Care (EOC) in Tallahassee and the Tallahassee Rapid Response Team (RRT). Since his inception into the EOC Chair role, he assisted in the development of a new EOC checklist which enhances process improvements based on the identified deficiency. The project was imperative for the survey team due to the relocation of our new facility and now places the deficiencies corrective action on the supervisor of the floor instead of the team. He has conducted several Joint Commission inspections to ensure compliance within our facility. Mr. Vialpando helped determine the essential supplies, equipment, and documentation needed for the RRT response bags based on his knowledge and expertise. Our mock RRT and Code Blue scenarios have identified the strengths and weaknesses of this new process. The feedback Mr. Vialpando and the team received/provided during the after action reviews (AAR) has helped streamline our response, team cohesiveness and improved patient outcomes. Recently, he volunteered to become an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) instructor, taught Military Cultural Awareness at our quarterly skills fair, and has become the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for RME binders. Refinement of the binder was necessary to meet the needs of the nursing staff working on three independent floors and the procurement of new equipment. He created three new checklists to identify equipment on each floor and their designated locations. These binders highlight the Instructions For Use (IFU), equipment owner's manuals and troubleshooting guidelines serving as a quick reference for the staff ensuring manufacturer compliance.